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Keeping readers interested in your novel is a difficult task for any writer. Many readers will decide whether they will continue reading your book based on the first few chapters or sometimes even the first few paragraphs. Hooking your readers into the story early on is key to attracting and maintaining an audience for your writing. There are several things you can do to draw your readers in and keep them reading.

* First, be descriptive. The great thing about writing a novel is that you're not constrained by a word count the way you would be if you were writing a short story. This means you have more time to build the story by layering description and events. Set the stage for your story by using description to create a sense of place for your readers. Whether you're describing a Civil War battlefield or the main character's bathroom, use description to make the readers feel at home. By giving your readers a realistic image of where the story begins, the easier it is for them to project themselves into the story.

* Second, create characters that will leave a lasting impression. A good writer creates characters that are not only memorable, but whom an audience will readily relate to. When creating characters, pay attention to the details. You must have an idea of what they look like physically, how they dress, their different behavior patterns, how they walk and talk. If you can't convey these basic things to your audience, your readers won't feel any reason to try to identify with them.

There also needs to be something that sets your character apart from the rest, something that uniquely identifies who they are. They must be flawed or marked in some way that will make readers care about what happens to them. They don't necessarily need to be lovable or even likable, but they do have to be relatable.

* Third, create a conflict for your character that will ultimately change who and what they are and have the story resolve itself accordingly. If your main character is not in some way changed by the end of the story, then your readers will not feel moved. When someone picks up your novel, they expect to be taken on a journey. You want your readers to feel like what happens to the characters is happening to them and when the story ends, you want it to stay with them. Writing a strong ending is just as important as writing a strong beginning and you should always leave your readers wanting more.

*Lastly, maintain the pace for whatever type of story you're writing. If you're writing a suspense novel, then you need a faster pace with more action. If you're writing a love story, then you'll want to write at a slower pace, drawing out the romance. Whatever it is you're writing, you must maintain a balance between active and passive scenes. You don't want your reader to get bored but you also want them to be able to keep up with the action. Setting a consistent pace will keep your readers turning the page to see what happens next.

Learn more about this author, R.L. Lake.
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